NPU: New Malloy policy affirms our work on energy

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy didn’t consult with Norwich Public Utilities in the run-up to his Friday unveiling of a comprehensive energy strategy. But he may as well have, NPU’s chief said hours after reviewing the document.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy didn’t consult with Norwich Public Utilities in the run-up to his Friday unveiling of a comprehensive energy strategy.

But he may as well have, NPU’s chief said hours after reviewing the document.

“It was a confirmation that we’ve been doing the right thing. We’ve been doing a lot of this on our own for more than two years,” NPU General Manager John Bilda said. “We’re encouraged the top levels of state government agree with us.”

From a natural gas sector strategy that seeks to make the fueling option available to 250,000 residents and 75 percent of businesses over the next seven years to an expansion of net metering, the city-owned utility says it’s positioned to thrive under the state’s new platform.

“This strategy is designed to integrate energy, environmental and economic goals. It attempts to leverage scarce government revenues to encourage private investment and ‘buy-in,’ ” NPU spokesman Mike Hughes said. “NPU has used this strategy and is well ahead of the curve as compared to other parts of the state.”

Malloy’s strategy is broken down by categories. In the electricity sector area, officials call for “greater grid resilience” through tree trimming, wire hardening and improvement information technologies to more effectively track outages and restore service.

“NPU has a very aggressive vegetation management program that exceeds industry standards. Our tree warden works with the city to ensure fast response to vegetation issues,” Hughes said.

Malloy touted the plan as a “blueprint looking out into the future. It analyzes all the energy needs for residents and business, ranging from electricity and heating to power for our large and small manufacturers and fuels for vehicles.”

That’s in line with NPU’s plan to open a second natural gas filling station on Otrobando Avenue through a $2.08 million federal grant.

The utility also points to its November ballot initiative to pay for an $8 million natural gas line expansion through a bond as a further commitment to Malloy’s policy.